Automatic machine-control means



March 2 1926. 1,574,769

B. L. VAN ORMAN AUTOMATIC MACHINE CONTROL MEANS Filed oct. 15, 1923 6 sneetssheet 1 g@ l t* INVENTOR. J\\\\ Ber L. WHO/*mah A T TORNEYS I March 2 1926.

\ B. l.. VAN ORMAN AUTOMATIC MACHINE CONTROL MEANS Filed OCL. 15. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 mm WW N mm m W0 n [m A V L I0l. fh

March 2 1926. 1,574,769

B. L. VAN oRMAN AUTOMATIC MACHINE CONTROL MEANS Filed OCI'., l5? 1.923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 15e/f L. Van Ormai? A TTORNEYS March 2 1926. 1,574,769

' B L. VAN ORMAN AUTOMATIC MACHINE CONTROL MEANS Filed OCIZ. l5. 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 V I. Y y fw-5%; r 11/ Y i n. 24

6 ll l o |46 f 39 l E 41 38 INI/ENTOR.

A TTORNEYAr March 2 1926'.

6 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. l5, 1925 7 l M a 4. 2 u, 6 .f 0 8 m u 7 3 7 15TH 9. m .f .a m 1 w M 00o H 7 1 v /NVENTo/e. Bert L. l/a/v Orman 1% ,M W

' ./:TTORNEY:

Marh 2 1926. 1,574,769

B. L. VAN ORMAN AUTOMATIC MACHINE CONTROL AMEANS Filed oct. 15. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 mgm/rola B erf L Van Orman BY A TTORNEYS Patented Mar.- 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

:BERT L. vAN oRiviAN, or HIGHLAND PARK, iaiciiiGAN,AssiGNoR 'ro L. A. YOUNG l INDUSTRIES, iNcl, or nn'raorr, MTQHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE-CONTROL MEANS.

Application filed october 15, 1923. serial No. 668,677.

T all whom t may concer/n:

Be it known that I, BERT L. VAN ORMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Highland Park, county of llVayne, State of hiichigan, have invented Certain new and useful Improvements in tiutomaticMachine- Control Means, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to automatic machine control means actuated by abnormal conditions to disconnect the machine from the source of power or other means to prevent injury to the machine.

I have illustrated my present improve-y ments as I have embodied them ina machine foi' the manufacture of coiled springs such as are used in vehicle and furniture seats, mattresses and the like. The general structure and operation of such machine is illustrated and described in my co-pending applicationsA for Letters Patent, Serial No. 474,399, tiled June 2, 1921, and Serial No.

595,995, filed October 22,1922, and I have illustrated in the accompanying `vdrawings` only such portions of the machine as seem to me necessary to illustrate the practical use of my present improvements.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved means for automatically stopping a machine in the event of breakage of a part or the failure of a part to perform its normal function.

Second, to provide in a machine an improved control mechanism which is comparatively simple' in its parts and not likely to become inoperative in use.

Further objects, and objects relating` to structural details, will vdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described iii-the following specification. rIhe invention vis clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A; structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in tlie accompanying drawing, forming a lpart' ot this application, in which:

Fig. I Sheet l is a fraomentar alan view.

.s 7 a n l ot a wire spring making machine embodying` features of the invention, the transmission control parts being shown in low speed posi-V tion.

Fig. II, Sheet 2, is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the transmission.control members in high speed position.

Fig. III, Sheet 3, is a fragmentary view of an electro mechanical tripping device inV actuated position.

Fig. IV, Sheet 3, is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. II, showing the automatic control mechanism in ,positionto neutralize v the transn'iission.

Fig. yV, Sheet i,'is a 'detail-'view partially in sectionon a line corresponding to line( -5 of Fig. II.

Fig. .V I, .Sheet l, isa detail section -on a line corresponding to line Gwfof Fig. II,

illustrating details of a two-speed power transmitting mechanism.

Fig. VII, Sheet l, is a detail view partially in` section on a line Corresponding t0 linc 7-7 of Fig. VI, showing details of th high speed clutch. f

iig. VIII, Sheet 1,- is a detail section on a line corresponding to line ,S-S of Fig. VI, showing details of the low speedclutch.

Fig. IX, Sheet 5, is a detail section on aline corresponding to line 9-9 of-'Fig. II.

Fig. X, Sheet 6, isA an enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line 10-10 of Fig. I, illustratinganautomatic means for closing .an electrical circuit, the parts being shown in open position. E

Fig. XI, Sheet 6, is ak det-ail section on a line corresponding to line 11i-11 of Fig. X, illustrating further deta-ils of circuit closing means.

Fig. XII, Sheet 6, is a detail section on a line corresponding to line 12-12 of Fig. XI. Fig. XIII, Sheet G, isa fragmentary view similar to Fig. X,`showing the circuit closing means in closedl position.

Fig. XIV.Sheet 6, is a fragmentary View similar toFig. XII, with the parts in closed position. i .c 1 'y Fig. XV, Sheetti, is a diagrammatic view of au electrical circuit for controlling the vclutch releasing means.

Fig. XVI, Sheet 2, isv an` enlarged detail section on a line corresponding to line 16-16 of Fig. II, showing details of an automatic vcircuit breaker.l

Fig. XVII, Sheet 5, is a fragmentary plan partially in section on a line corresponding to line 17-17 of Fig. IX, illustrating details ofy mechanical means for tripping the automatic control mechanism.

In the drawing, similar reference numerals refer .to similar parts throughout the several views and the sectional Views are taken lookf l' di to, I will describe only such parts as seemA desirable to a complete understand-ing of my present invention.

The stock Wire 2O is drawnz from4 a suitable source of supply by feed rollers 2l which are driven by suitable reduction gears enclosed in the gear housing 23 (see Fig. I). The Wire is pulled' through a guide 24 and around a tension' arm 25, and is delivered to a coiling mechanism designated generally by the numeral 26. Counter gears 27 and 28 drive various parts of the machine.

Power from any suitable source imparts motion to a main drive pulley 30hyy means of abe-P031. The sp-ullev revolvesatr a constant and uniformv speed, but through the medium of a. transmission the machine 4may be driven at either of tvvo different speeds or may be disconnected from the drive pulley. The construction of a satisfactory type of transmission is illustrated in detail hin Figs. VI, vVII and kVH. 'Y

A driven shaft 32, which is operatively connected With Working parts of the machine by a suitable train of gears 33, serves as support for the drive .pulley 30Y and. other revolving partsV of the transmission. The" shaft 32r is rotatable in suitable bearings 34 and 35 in the supporting brackets 36 and 37 (see Fig. VI). VVhen the transmission is Ain neutral, the pulley 30 is free to rotate on the shaft 32 While the latter remains at rest. 1

v'When the parts are in the positionsshown in Figs. II and VI, a cone 38, .pivhi'ch'isfreeV y toslid-e endvvise on the shaft 32, has been moved into 4position to actuate the levers 39 which are pivoted at 40a, causing Wedges 4l on the levers to spread and. expand clutch shoes 42' into friction'al engagement with the inside surface of the pulley 30 (see Fig. VII). v i

pivoted 'at 43v to a spider 44 which. cured to the shaft- 32.

ic ce- Frictional engagement of the shoes 42 with the `pulley 30 causes the shaft 32 to rotate as a unit with the pulleyanddrive'the machine at high speed. Thefvvedges 4l engage rollers 45 which are rotatablyv mounted on the brake shoes 42. The brake levers 39 are provided with -rollers 46 coacting with the cone 38. The position of the conc 38 is controlled by a shifting yoke 47 which is pivoted at 48 to the bracket. 37 and carries a pin 4S) enga-ging an annular groove in the cone. The yoke 47 is actuated by a slide bar 50 which is reciprocable in guides in the brackets 36 and 37, a laterally projecting pin 5l on the yoke engaging appropriate openings in the sides of the'bar. To .pro-

. vide vmanual means of moving the slide bar rllhe clutch shoes 42 arc- 50, a hand lever 52 is pivoted at to the housing 23 and connected to the bar by a link 54'.`

Tension springs 55 connect-ing the clutch levers 395 pullv the Wed-ges 41 out of engagement with the rollers 45 when the levers are released by the cone 38, thereby permitting' springs a6, which are attached to oppositely disposed clutch shoes 42, t0 pull the latter o-ut of fricti'onal engagement with the pulley 30. 1When released from the clutch shoes, the pulley is free to rotate idly, allowing the machine to stop'I rl`he slide bar 50 carries a ac f; 53 in mei-'h with a pinion 59 on a transverse shaft G() ivliich is, rotatably mounted in bearings (il on the bracket 3G (see Figs. VI and VIH). A porti-on 'of the shaft 60 at one end ris threaded right hand and runs in a correspending Vnut 62. rlhe opposite end is threaded into a left hand nut 63. The nuts 62.I and 63 bear against the outer faces of lugs 64 projecting upward from bra-ire shoes ($5 Which are pivoted at G5 to the bracket 3G. These clutch shoes lie in operative re lation to a clutch drum 67, which is rotatably mounted on the driven shaft 32. A gear 68 on the clutch drum coacts with planetary pin-ions 69 on a spider 70 which is secured to the shaft 32. Another gear 7l secured to the drive pulley 30, also c'oacts with the pinions 69; Then the transmission is in neutral, the spider 70 remains at rest with the shaft 32 While the gear 68 is rotated idly in a direction oppositey to the rotation of the pu'llfey 30. 'ff the slide bar 50 is moved outivard a certain distance past the position necessary to release the high speed clutch, the rack 58 rotates the pinion 59 a suiiicient amount to cause the oppositely threaded nuts 62 and 63 to contract the clutch shoes 65 on the clutch drum 67. TWhen the drum G7 is held stationary, the spider 70 is caused to rotate the shaft 32 at half the speed of the drive pulley 30 and drive the machine at. lovv speed. The clutch shoes 65 are normally held out of engagementivith the drum (37 by tension springs 72.

From the foregoing description it is ap parent that1 with the pulley 30 in motion. the position of the slide bar 5() determine; the movements of the machine. lf the slide bar is moved `to the position shown in Figs. II and VI, Vthe machine is driven at high speed. If the bar is moved outviv'ard to the position shown in F I, the machine is driven at loiv speed. The machine is stopped by moving `thefbar to an intermediate position.

ln addition to the means provided for controlling the transmission manually, it is desirable that automatic means be providml to stop the machine Without delay When certain abnormal conditions of operation arise. A preferred type of automatic control Cil c fi

V78 and one end thereof terminates in a forked end which embraces a roller 80 mounted on the cam member. The opposite aini 81 has a keeper 82 adapted to coact with a latch 88 pivoted at 84. Then the latch is engaged with the locking lever, the cam member is locked in open position and this is its normal position. The latch 83 has an arm forked at 85 to embrace the stein of the armature 88 between the collar-like-tappet 86 and the adjustable tappet 87, theftappet 87 being nuts threaded upon the stem for adjustment.

circuit with a source of electricity as will be hereinafter pointed out.

The tappet 86 of the armature is held normally in contact with the latch 88 by a spring 91, thus holding the catch in engage- Y ment with the locking lever 77. When the solenoid is energized, the tappet 87 strikes *j the latch, releasing the locking lever (see Fig. III); The release of the locking lever allows the coiled springs 92 attached to the cam member 75 and to a stationary part 92v of the machine to aotuate the cam member to the position shown in Fig. IV. A roller 94 carried by the control bar 50 projects into the cani opening 95 of the cam member.

lien the locking lever is engaged by thel catch, as shown'in Fig. II, the control bar lies beneath the widevportion of the cam opening which is wideenough to allow the roller 94 to move through itsv entire range of movement.

7ith the parts in this position, the machine is free to bestarted and stopped at any time by means of the hand control lever he parts are shown in vlow speed position in Fig. I and in highspeed position in liig. II. lhen the cam plate is moved Vto the position shown in Fig..III the narrow part of the cam opening is carried over the control bar and the converging sides of the cam, forcing` the transmission control barv 50 from either its high or low speed position, as the case may be, into neutral position. Then the cam plate is in actuated position, the transmission can not be shifted from neutral. This is of advantage from the standpoint of safetyto the machine since the necessity of re-setting the locking lever 77V before starting themachine is an indi- `tion to the operator that trouble hasfocthe machine.

ving the cam plate 1 curred and should be located and corrected before attempting to resume operations.

The solenoid magnet 90 may be electrically connectedV with any number of circuit closing means located at various points on Several different devices for closing a control. circuit are shown in my said co-pending application, Serial No. 595,995- I deem it sufficient to illustrate -and describe the operation of oneof such circuit closing. means: p As the wire 20 is supplied to the machine in bales containing a limited supply of wire.'

making necessary the occasional replenishment ofwire and rethreading of the inachine, it is desirablethat the machine be stopped as soon as the last end ofthe ivii'e has passed the feed rollers 21. Y

Then wire is in place in the machine, a roller 98 mounted on a rock arm 99, is supported on the wire 20l between guides 100 vand 101 (see Figs-I, .X and XI). The rock f arm 99. is secured to a rock Vshaft 102 which The electro-magnet or solenoid 90 is in the contact 105 is held away from the con' tact 106 (see Figs. X'and XII). Then the supply of wire becomes exhausted, the roller 98 and rock arm 99 .areL allowed to fallisce Fig. XIII)y and swing the contact 105` against the contact 106 (see Fig. XIV),

In Fig.- XV, I have shown a complete electrical circuit. in which the current is supplied -by a generator 108. 'llheV frame and other metallic parts of the machine serve as a ground for the circuit. fhenever the roller 98 is held up by wire in the machine. the Vcircuit is open. Then exhaustion of the wire supply allows the contact point 105 to make contact with the point 106, the circuit Vis closed, permitting the generator 108 to energize the solenoid magnet- 90 and caiis- Y 75 to be'released to neutralize the transmission.

An automatic circuit breaker, suitable for use with this form of control, consists of a Contact plate 110, attached in insulated relation to the cam plate 7 5 and making electrica-l contact with a stationary conductor lllfwhenever the cam plate'is in open position, (seeFig. XVI). As the cam plate moves to neutralize the transmission, the contact plate 110 is carried away from the conductor 111 opening theelectrical circuit that energizes the solenoid magnet and preventing` a useless if not injurious .flow of current.

A means for releasingthe cam plate 75 until the Wire guide wheel 115 strikes the beveled end of the bar 112 sliding it loaclr against the pull of the yspring 114 (see dotted lines in Fig. XVII). The slide bar 112 carries an upright .116 that engages .the end ot' the latch 83 to release the locking lever 77.'

I have illustrated and described my mprovenients in an embodiment which I have 'found very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate and describe certain modifications and adaptations which I contemplate as I believe the disclosure made will enable those skilled 1n the art to which my inven-,gy

tion relates to embody or adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with the machine to be controlled, of driving means therefor comprising a driven shaft, a driving pulley rotatable on said shaft, a clutch-lor con# necting said pulley vto said shatt, a driving connection from said pulley to. said shaft, an actuating means .for saididriving connection, a control bar operatively connected to said clutch and to said .drivingconnection actuating means adapted to actuatev one or the other when at the ends of its throiv and to. disconnect kboth when in an intermediate position, a releasemember mounted for reciprocating movement transversely of said control bar and having a cam opening therein With converging sides, said controlbar being provided with a coacting part whereby the actuation of said cam member moves said lcontrol bar to neutral i )osition a sirino' 'tor actuvatino' said release member, a means for manually adjusting said control bar, a manually adjusted pivotally mounted locking lever operatively connected to said release member, a catch for said locking lever, an electromagnet operatively associated With said catch and with said machine, and a tripping member independent of said electromagnet operatively associate-d With said catch and said machine.

2. The combination with the machine to be controlled, of driving means therefor comprising a driven shaft, a driving pulley rotatable on said shaft, a clutch r'o-r connecting 'said pulley to said shaft, a driving connection from said pulley to said described my invention, whatA shalt, an actuating Ameans tor said driving connection, a control bar operatively connected to said clutch and to said driving connection actuating means adapted to actuate one or tl'le other' `when at the ends ot its throw and to .disconnect both when in an intermediate position, a release member mounted `for reciprocating movement transversely oit said control bar and having a cam opening therein Witfhconverging sides, said control bar being provided with a coacting part whereby the actuation of said cam member `moves said control bar to neutral position, 'a' spring for actuating said release member, a means `for manually adjusting said control bar, a nilanually adjust ed pivotally mounted locking rlever operatively, connected to. said release member, a catch forysaid looking lever, and an electromagnet operatively associated with said catch and with Said machine. f

3, The combination with the machine to be controlled, of a variable speed driving means therefor, a reciprocating control bar for said variable yspeed driving means, a

Arelease member mounted for reciprocating movemelzlrl; transversely of said control bar and havingfa cam opening tl ercin, said controlzb'ar beinguprovit'led with a coaeting part, a spring 'tor actuating Said release member, a means V.ton manually adjusting said' control bar, a manually adjusted pivotally mounted flocking lever operatively connectedl'tosaid release member, a catch for said loclringillever, ain electromagnet ope atively associated with said catch and with said machine, and a tripping member independent yof said eleotromagnet operatively associated with said catch and said machine.

d., The combination With the machine to be controlled, of a variable speed driving means therefor, a reciprocating control bar for said variable speed driving means, a release member mounted for reciprocating movement transversely of said control bar and having a cam 'opening therein, said control bar being provided with a coacting part, a springior actuating' saidrelcase member, a means for manually adjusting said controlV bar, a manually adjusted iivotally mounted locking lever operatively connected to said release member, a catch for said lool'- ng lever, and an electi'omagnet operatively associated with said catch and with said machine.

5. The combination with the machine to be controlled, of a variable speed driving means therefor, a reciprocating control bar for vsaid variable speed driving means, a release member mount-ed for reciprocating movementtransversely of said control bar and having a Vcam opening therein, said control vbarbeing provided with a coacting part, a spring for actuating said release member, a means for manually adjusting Ll l) said control bar, a manually adjusted locking lever operatively connected to said release member, a catch for said locking lever, and means for automatically releasing said catch operatively associated Withthe machine.

6. The combination With the machine to be controlled provided with a yielding member over Which the stock entering the machine is passed and a circuit closing means held normally in open position by the stock, ot a variable speed driving means ior said machine, a reciprocating control member 'op cratively associated with said driving means so that it is in neutral when the control member isv in an intermediate position, means ior manually adjusting said control member, a spring actuated releasing member mounted to reciprocate transversely of said control member and provided With a cam opening having converging sides, said control member having a part engaging said opening whereby the control member is moved to its neutral position by the actuation of said releasing member, a manually adjusted locking means for holding said releasing member in its actuated position, a means for releasing said locking means including an electromagnet in the circuit of said circuit closing means, and means for releasing said locking means operatively associated with said yielding member of said machine.

7. The combination with the machine to be controlled provided With a circuit closing means held normally in open position by the stock, of a variable speed driving means for said machine, a reciprocating control member operatively associated with said driving means so that it is in neutral when the control member is in an intermediate position, means for manually adjusting said control member, a spring actuated releasing member mounted to reciprocate transversely of said control member and provided with a cam opening having converging sides, said control member having a part engaging said opening whereby the control member is moved to its neutral position by the actuation of said releasing member, a manually adjusted locking means for holding said releasing member in its actuated position, and a means for releasing said locking means including an electromagnet in the circuit of said circuit closing means. 4

8. The combination with the machine to be controlled, of a variable speed driving means for said machine, a reciprocating control member operatively associated with said driving means so that it is in neutral when the control member is in an intermediate position, means for manually adjusting said control member, a spring acA tinted releasing member insulated to reclprof cate transversely oi said control member and provided with a cam opening having converging sides, said control member having a part engaging said opening whereby the -control member is moved to itsl neutral position by the actuation of said releasing member, a locking means for holding said releasing member inits'actuated position,

and means for automatically tripping said locking means operatively associated With the machine.

Y 9. The combination with the machine to be controlled and the stock operated upon by the machine, of a variable speed driving means for said machine, a manually adjustable control member for said driving means, a spring actuated releasing member :t'or said control member, a 'manually adjusted locking means ior said releasing member, a circuit closing means held normally in open position by the stock and a means for releasing said locking means including an electromagnet in the circuit of said circuit closing means.

l0. The combination with the machine to be controlled, oi" a variable speed driving means for said machine, a control member for said variable speed driving means selectively adjustable to vary the speed, a spring actuated releasing member for said control member', a manually adjusted locking means for said releasing member, and means for automatically tripping said locking means operatively associated With the machine.

ll. The combination with the machine to be controlled, ot a variable speed driving means therefor`v a control member 1Cor said variable speed driving means, a release member for actuating said control member to neutral position, a springI for actuating said release member, a means for manually adjusting said control member, a locking .means operatively connected to said release member, a catch for said locking means, an electromagnet operatively associated with said catch and with said machine, and a tripping` member independent of said electromagnet operatively associated with said catch and said machine.

l2. The combination with the machine to be controlled, of a variable speed driving means therefor, a selectively adjustable control member for said variable speed driving` means whereby the speed of the machine is determined, a release member for actuating said control member to neutral position, a

liti) Spring for actuating said release member, a v

means for manually adjusting said control member, a locking means operatively connected to said release member, a catch ior said locking means, and an electromagnet operatively associated with said catch and with said machine.

13. The combination with the machine to be cout-relied, of a variable speed driving means therefor, a selectively adjustable control member for said variable rspeed driving meansA whereby. tle speedl of=y the machinerie determined, a release'- member for actuating said' controlniember to neutral position, a'

spr-inggfor actuating saidrelease member, a nieansfor manually. adjusting-said control member, lockingL means operatively con'- nectedtoeaid release member; and an automat-ic means for tr-ippinggsaidflockinzgjimeans.

ll. The combination of a driving; means, a controlmember therefore adapted for. manual ',uljuStinent, avreleasemember for automatically actuating said controltmember to neutral position, alockingmembcr for saidrelease niemberxwliereby it` is normally held in inoperative position;` permitting thefmanual adjustmentl of saidfcontr'ol member, a latch for saidl locking meinbeigan electromagnet operative-ly associated with said latch, and a.- mechanically actua-ted: tripping' member operatively assc'ciated With said' latch.

l5; rllhe combinationof'l a driving means,

la control member therefor adapted `for manual' adjustment, a release member for automatically actuating Said control member to= neutral position, a locking` member for said release member whereby itis normally held in inoperative position permitting` the manual adjustment ofsaid control member, a lateh for said locking" member, andan electromagnet operatively associated with saidlatcln In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my handf BERT L. VAN' Oli-MAN. 

